Table 2 Themes that emerged from FGDs, semi-structured interviews, and key informant interviews
Topic area | Themes |
|---|---|
TBA practices | |
- antenatal | Dietary and workload advice; abdominal massage; linking with SBAs. |
- delivery | Receiving the baby; giving comfort to mother; mediating with the husband; administration of special foods and herbs; abdominal massage; observing traditions. |
- post-partum | Keeping mother and baby warm; preparing special foods; cleaning the woman; disposal of placenta; assistance with domestic chores; encouraging breast feeding. |
- complications | Administration of herbs; food supplementation; inducing vomiting; referral to health facility. |
- challenges | Fear of becoming infected with HIV when women are ‘sick’; managing complications; difficulty obtaining transport for referrals |
SBA practices | |
- antenatal | Checking vital signs of woman and baby; administration of medications/immunisation; making a birth plan; referral for laboratory testing; dietary and workload advice; promotion of bed nets. |
- delivery | Monitoring the mother and baby; encouraging the woman. |
- post-partum | Monitoring baby and mother; care of episiotomy/tear; encouraging breastfeeding; dietary advice; family planning. |
- complications | Transfer to higher level facility. |
- challenges | Trying to get women to attend health facility for delivery; doing deliveries at home; difficulty getting an ambulance in case of complications; lack of necessary equipment at health facility; being a lone practitioner. |
Perceptions of TBAs | |
- strengths | Accessible and available; assistance with domestic chores; referral and accompanying to health facility; trusted and respected by community; valued traditional knowledge; courage. |
- concerns | Inability to manage complications; poor hygiene; unsafe practices. |
Perceptions of SBAs | |
- strengths | Valuable technical knowledge & skills; provision of safety; access to equipment, medications & injections; ability to manage complications; able to refer easily. |
- concerns | Negative attitudes and behaviours towards women; leaving women alone; cold facilities; unwanted clinical procedures; staff absenteeism; restricted visitors; lack of equipment. |